Pennsylvania voters support the war in Iraq 73 - 24 percent and approve 70 - 26
percent of the way President George W. Bush is handling the war, according to a
Quinnipiac University poll released today.

President Bush's overall approval is 67 - 28 percent, up from 53 - 41 percent in
a February 21 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University.

Republican support for the war is at 89 percent, while Democratic support is 58 -
38 percent. Independent voters support the war 69 - 28 percent.

The war in Iraq will last "months," 50 percent of voters say, while 13 percent
say it will last "about a year," and 11 percent say longer than a year. Only 18 percent
say the war will be over in "weeks."

"Pennsylvania's strong support for the war and the state's backing of President
Bush mirror almost exactly the feeling of Americans nationwide. Pennsylvanians
believe that in the long run the war will decrease the risk of further terrorism in the
United States and they are not concerned that there will be a high casualty rate among
the American troops," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac
University Polling Institute.

"Men (79 percent) are more likely to support the war than women (67 percent).
The strongest opposition to the war is among voters in Philadelphia, where a bare
majority of 50 percent are behind the war, while 43 percent say they are opposed.
Support is strongest in largely rural southwest Pennsylvania (86 percent) while in
Allegheny County, the Pittsburgh area, support is running at 70 percent," Richards
added.

There are more American casualties than expected, 20 percent of Pennsylvania
voters say, but 40 percent say there are fewer U.S. casualties and 35 percent say the
casualty rate is what they expected.

By a 48 - 38 percent margin voters say the short-term risk of terrorism in the
U.S. will be increased because of the war.

But Pennsylvania voters say 51 - 37 percent that the long-term risk of terrorism
will decrease because of the war.

Only 6 percent of voters are "very worried" about terrorism in their community,
with 24 percent "somewhat worried;" 34 percent "not too worried," and 35 percent
"not worried at all."

From April 1 - 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,179 Pennsylvania registered
voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts
public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For additional data -- www.quinnipiac.edu and quicklinks

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling
his job as President?